The national coach of Belgium, Robert Martineztrusted this Thursday that the Belgian striker and the Real Madrid Eden Hazard can “restart the machine” quickly after his prolonged injury, to participate in two of the three games that the Red Devils this June and, if possible, the Qatar World Cup at the end of the year.
In an interview with the Belgian newspaper The evening, Martínez celebrated that Hazard no longer has the osteosynthesis plate that he had been wearing on his right fibula since his injury in October 2019 and lamented that with this plate “it was impossible for him to feel good and shine.”
And, asked if the striker will now be able to recover the level he showed in the 2018 World Cup, Martínez stated that it is “a matter of rhythm” and that he will need to “play to feel good”.
“We know that you can reboot the machine quickly, even in the Real Madrid where you will always have competition. He has enough experience to do it and with us he has a clear role.”
In this sense, he assured that he hopes that he can play in two of the three games that Belgium will play in the League of Nations in June (Netherlands, Poland and Wales) and said that “if after this he can play another fifteen in the World Cup, it would be perfect”.
On the other hand, he referred to the Real Madrid goalkeeper’s season Thibaut Courtoiswho will miss the next matches with Belgium due to his pubalgia, and acknowledged that, although it is very difficult for a goalkeeper to win the Ballon d’Or, “this could change with Courtois“.
“What I love in his case is the recognition of the fans of the Real Madrid. It is never easy for a foreign player to be so adored in Madrid, especially in a club with a long tradition of local goalkeepers, such as Casillas o Buyo“, said.
Regarding his own future, he recalled that his contract with the Belgian team lasts until the 2022 World Cup and he preferred not to venture what will come next, although he declared himself open to “discussing” it with the federation.
“Everything will depend on how things go during the League of Nations and the world. You know, if things go wrong in Qatar all the Belgians will want me kicked out, but if we win I’ll want to stay four more years to shout in every interview that we’re champions,” he joked.
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